“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
– 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
![]() We talked yesterday about our bodies being a gift from God, even though they are imperfect. You see, as easy as it is to focus on the many things that are going wrong with our flesh, the reality is that without it, Jesus could not reveal Himself to others through our lives. Your body is what the Lord uses to make a difference in the world! Without flesh, blood and bone, you would not be equipped to have a tangible impact on His Kingdom. For example, if you’re going to build an orphanage, you should use your arms and legs. If you’re going to heal the sick and pray for the hurting, you should lay your hands on them, and to comfort a child, you should give him or her a hug. In each of these instances, your body is what enables you to create a physical manifestation of something spiritual. This is the beautiful reality of having a dual existence — one that is both visible and invisible. Friend, no matter how broken you are or how badly you are hurting, God can and will use you to restore others. In the words of Henri Nouwen, Jesus has made you a “wounded healer.” In fact, some of the greatest soldiers of the Christian faith have dealt with their own afflictions and still had powerful ministries (the Apostle Paul and his thorn in the flesh is a great example). This is why I urge you to love your body, as imperfect as it is. Your flesh is the vehicle driven by your spirit to carry out God’s call on your life, so cherish it, take care of it, and thank the Lord for it, today and every day! |
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for making me a wounded healer. I give my whole life to you, including my body, and ask that you would use me to show your love to the world.
Reflection
What has God done through your life to impact the world? How did your body make it possible?